Mugabe pardons political criminals

Tuesday October 10 2000, 1.00am, The Times

Tuesday October 10 2000, 1.00am, The Times

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe - whose ruling party was blamed for a wave of violence surrounding parliamentary elections in June - has pardoned offenders accused of most politically motivated crimes committed in the first six months of this year, the justice ministry said.

The official justice ministry notice, made available today, said anyone liable for prosecution for political crimes between January 1 and July 31 were pardoned with immediate effect. A few offenders already convicted and imprisoned were to be set free immediately.

Human rights and lawyers groups today condemned the amnesty that was expected to free thousands of ruling party supporters from prosecution for election violence.

Mr Mugabe had shown “once again, his complete contempt for the rule of law”, said the Legal